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Subject: Re: definition of clones: Danchess an Crafty

Author: Dann Corbit

Date: 11:49:10 02/15/04

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On February 15, 2004 at 14:43:06, Bob Durrett wrote:

>On February 15, 2004 at 14:29:52, Robert Hyatt wrote:
>
><snip>
>
>In view of the size and complexity of Crafty I wonder whether or not cloning
>Crafty is really a good idea for the newbie chess programmer to get started.

A crafty clone is doomed to failure.  I am sure of it.  What I mean is this:
Dr. Hyatt knows crafty inside and out.  He can dream crafty algorithms and spin
them around in his mind.  This will be true of nobody else.  Someone else might
grab the crafty code base and make some improvements.  But not really
understanding the whole pile, it will slowly but certainly lag behind.  For
instance BIONIC did have some innovations that put it ahead of crafty.  Now,
Crafty 19.10 can eat it for lunch and spit out little BIONIC bits on the floor.

>On the other hand, maybe there are parts of crafty which could be used in the
>beginning so that the newbie programmer could concentrate on creating his/her
>own code for the really important parts.
>
>Dann Corbit seems to have suggested that starting with an existing search
>algorithm, such as alpha/beta, might be a prudent way to get started.

Read tutorials like that of Bruce Moreland and Colin Frayn first.  Then read
Ernst Heinz's book.  Then modify some programs.  Throw them away when you are
done with that.  Then write your own chess program as you best see fit.

I think that is a pretty good outline.

>It is not so clear about the position evaluation [and maybe move generator].  I
>do not read about well known algorithms for position evaluation.
>
>Some of the input-output and supporting software maybe should be used as-is
>assuming the copyright owner consents.
>
>Am I on the right track?
>
>Bob D.



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